Composition for treating hides.



s ATES rAanT onnron.

JOHN H. YOOUM, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE CLARENDON- YOCUM COMPANY, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

COMPOSITION FOR TREATING HIDES.

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N0 Drawing.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN H. YOCUM, a citizen of the United States, residing in the cityof East Orange, county of Essex, State of New Jersey, have invented a certain new and useful Composition for Treating Hides, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates particularly to a composition for treating hides to preserve them for tanning purposes, and my object is to overcome certain objections to the present practice.

According to the present practice, when the hides are fresh or green they are usually laid one on top of the other with the hair side down, and as each hide is laid in position, the surface is more or less covered with common salt. The fresh hides contain more or less blood and other body fluids, and in some cases the salt acts on the blood in such a manner as to result in insoluble salt stains in the leather when tanned. These salt stains prevent the use of the leather in light colors, such as the tans, although it may be used with blacks or very dark colors which cover up the stains. By my invention I se-' cure the desired result in preserving the hides, but entirely eliminate these salt stains.

According to my invention the hides are treated with a compound comprising common salt and a suitably small proportion of the normal sulfite of sodium, or a similar base, such as potassium, ammonium, etc. The composition consists preferably of about 97 per cent. of common salt (sodium chlorid), and 3 per cent. of normal sulfite of sodium. The percentage of the sulfite may run as high as 6 or as low as 2, but I have found that the best average results are obtained by the use of 3 per cent.

The ingredients are thoroughly mixed in any suitable or well known manner, so that the sulfite is thoroughly and evenly distributed throughout the mixture, and it is applied to the hides by sprinkling in the usual manner and in the same quantity as it is customary to use under the present practice.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 21, 1916.

Application filed April 17, 1913. Serial No. 761,748.

By using the proper percentage of the normal sufite of sodium or normal sulfite of a similar base, the formation of salt stains in the hides is entirely prevented, and the subsequent tanning or treatment results in a uniform product free from discoloration. Not only are stains prevented, but a more uniform color is obtained in hides treated according to my invention.

While I have mentioned only sodium chlorid as the main ingredient in the compound, and while I prefer to use the chlorid for commercial reasons,other neutral salts of sodium, such as sodium sulfate, may be substituted in place of the chlorid.

In the leather trade hides are technically known as hides or skins, depending on their size, and I wish it to be understood that in this specification I am using the term hides in the broad sense and not in the technical sense.

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A composition of matter consisting of sodium chlorid and a small percentage of a normal sulfite of an alkali metal.

2. A composition of matter consisting of sodium chlorid and a small percentage of normal sulfite of sodium.

3. A composition of matter consisting of approximately 97 per cent. of sodium chlorid and approximately 3 per cent. of a normal sulfite of an alkali metal.

4. A composition of matter consisting of JOHN H. YOCUM.

Witnesses:

MABEL J. CooPnR, OLIVE B. KING.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

